[[imdb:0207998 Better Living Through Circuitry]] is a documentary about the underground Techno/Electronica/Rave culture. This is a culture I don’t have much experience with, excepting their music (of which I’m a HUGE fan).
Unfortunately, the movie seemed quite dijointed. I didn’t feel as though there was a cohesiveness, just a bunch of interviews slapped together. Judging from the large number of “Directors of Photography”, there were probably a large number of separate interviews. Therefore, the editor didn’t have enough similar material (aside from the common subject), or the editor didn’t know what he was doing. I’m guessing the former, but who knows?
The redeeming quality for me was the music, and being able to put faces to names. The movie doesn’t really have all that much to say, except for the repetitious mantra about how rave culture is all about acceptance and freedom to be yourself. Ok, we get it already! Unfortunately, many of the sound bites in the movie come from typical, in-coherant, and inarticulate party-goers, which would lead some to conclusion that ravers are a bunch of moronic kids hanging onto kindergarten behaviours and values.
At the same time, I am somewhat drawn to their the simplistic values. The freedom to let your guard down and not have to worry about getting your feelings trampled on. Just go and enjoy yourself. Of course, as one guy points out, should we really love everyone? Isn’t that just as unhealthy as our ego-centric, looking-out-for-number-one culture?
Judgement: rent it if you want to get a small window into the underground (anti-club) dance movement. I’d recommend the fictional [[imdb:0212974 Groove]] (not a great movie, but could help you explore the culture), [[imdb:0188674 Human Traffic]] (pretty good British production), or [[imdb:0139468 Modulations]] (from what I hear).
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